OfflineI was wondering if SI work the same after fusion as they would before. I am almost 5 months post op and am experiencing a lot of leg and back pain. I am so sick of taking meds that cloud my head and make me stupid. I am considering asking my Dr. about getting a SI because I did have some success with them pre op. Any input would be much appreciated especially from those who had them pre and post op. Thanks!
Carrie
Tests- MRI, numerous xrays, and EMG.Diagnosed with DDD S1-L1, stenosis L5-L4,4 bulging discs, sciatica with numbness in right leg. Over 3 years - 6 ESI, 4 facet joint injections, 5 different anti-inflamatory meds, several pain meds,Chiropractict treatment, massage therapy, and 14 sessions of PT. S1-L4 fusion on April 15,2008. 11 weeks post op developed sever right leg pain and numbness. Myelogram and Ct 12 weeks post op were negative.MRI 5 months post op showed scar tissue at L5-L4 pressing on L4 nerve root. Finally put into PM. Current meds- Percocet, fentynal patch, Lyrica, Lamictal, Lunesta and Xanax. Ortho wants to do a "revision" surgery because he feels I have "pseudarthrosis". I am currently waiting for my appointment with a Neurosurgeon for another opinion.
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Your best bet is to ask the surgeon who did the fusion. Not the doctor who does the injections. I had a 3 level cervical laminectomy and was still experiencing a lot of pain. I asked the PM doctor about a cortisone injection in my cervical spine. He told me that decision was the NS. I did have the injection, months later, and it did give me a lot of relief from the pain. I don't know how it works with a fusion!
Cervical myelopathy, 15 surgeries to date, Severe OA, bilateral knee replacements, DDD, 13 MRI’s, 4 sets of spinal cortisone procedures and dozens of cortisone shots in other areas for OA. Upcoming scheduled surgeries include laminectomy and removal of synovial cyst located at left facet joint of L4-L5 (may require fusion); Right resection of A-C joint (left was done 12 years ago, by far the most painful of all my surgeries)
Pauls advice is good. I have had injections since my surgery but it was not a fusion.
I am in no way associated with the medical field. Anything that I post comes from personal experience only.
DDD, Facet Arthropathy, DJD, Sleep Apnea
PT, Epidurals, Facet Blocks,Medial Branch Block, Rhizotomy,Discogram,Annular Tare L3/L4 Endoscopic Microdiscectomy,Laser Surgery
Methadone, Percocet, Soma, Welbutrin
Thanks for the advice. I was thinking about switching dr. because now that my surgery is done he seems frustrated with me because I'm not getting better. He'll spend maybe 5 minutes with me, write my scripts, and just says he'll see me in 4 weeks. Next time I see him I'll try to talk to him about the injection. I'm just so frustrated because now I'm feeling worse then I did before the surgery.
Tests- MRI, numerous xrays, and EMG.Diagnosed with DDD S1-L1, stenosis L5-L4,4 bulging discs, sciatica with numbness in right leg. Over 3 years - 6 ESI, 4 facet joint injections, 5 different anti-inflamatory meds, several pain meds,Chiropractict treatment, massage therapy, and 14 sessions of PT. S1-L4 fusion on April 15,2008. 11 weeks post op developed sever right leg pain and numbness. Myelogram and Ct 12 weeks post op were negative.MRI 5 months post op showed scar tissue at L5-L4 pressing on L4 nerve root. Finally put into PM. Current meds- Percocet, fentynal patch, Lyrica, Lamictal, Lunesta and Xanax. Ortho wants to do a "revision" surgery because he feels I have "pseudarthrosis". I am currently waiting for my appointment with a Neurosurgeon for another opinion.